Bears claw back top spot!

BURLEIGH BEARS 22 defeat TWEED HEADS SEAGULLS 16

For over 24 hours Burleigh relinquished the lead on the Queensland Wizard Cup ladder, only to defiantly return to the podium with a gripping 22-16 win over arch enemy Tweed Heads.

After North Queensland wrestled first spot away on Saturday, albeit momentarily, the reigning premiers recovered from two successive losses to hit back with a David Hicks try at the death.

The local derby at Pizzey Park again lived up to expectations, attracting almost 3000 fans amid chilly coastal winds. Not only did the game go down to the wire, but half-a-dozen players found themselves on report in a willing encounter.

?There was a bit of feeling which you?d expect, but most of it was okay,? victorious coach Rick Stone said.

?We were particularly good in that first half, being 18-6 up at the break, but Tweed refused to lie down.

?A few breaks started to go their way and they really put pressure on us. It looked like they would over-run us for a fair while there.?

Hicks? try on the hooter came courtesy of a neat offload from Nick Shaw, providing fitting bookends to the game after teammate Balin Cupples scored on the very first set of the match.

In fact Cupples scored the first two tries after backing up from Queensland Residents duties, while Aseri Laing posted a speculator from a blistering Trent Leis break.

Tweed only crossed the stripe three times in reply to Burleigh?s five, but kept in the contest with trademark in-your-face play.

For both clubs the match had extra significance on top of the two competition points being offered. The Seagulls needed a win to maintain pressure on Toowoomba and Redcliffe for fifth spot, while the Bears still have clear designs on the minor premiership.

?I don?t care what anyone says about the number of games you need to play, if you win the minor premiership it?s the easiest way to prepare your team for the grand final,? said Stone.

?You get a week off (in the first week of finals) and only have to win one game after that to get into the decider. With the intensity and injury toll of finals it?s the way to go.

?Looking at it, North Queensland has a softer run than us and we only have one game left.?

On 24 competition points Burleigh is scheduled to meet Central in Rockhampton on Sunday while North Queensland, 23 points, will host Wynnum on Saturday evening.

BURLEIGH 22 (Balin Cupples 2, Trent Leis, David Hicks, Robert Apanui tries; Trent Leis goal)

beat

TWEED HEADS 16 (Nathan Small, Damien Moore, Cory Bond tries; Brad Davis 2 goals)

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